Anthony Braxton Sextet in Philadephia

[alankin]

I plan to be at this one:

International House Philadelphia and Ars Nova Workshop present:

Friday, November 4, 2005

ANTHONY BRAXTON SEXTET

with

Anthony Braxton, reeds

Taylor Ho Bynum, trumpet

Jay Rozen, tuba

Jessica Pavone, violin

Chris Dahlgren, bass

Aaron Siegel, drums

Composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton formed the Creative Construction

Company (with violinist Leroy Jenkins and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith) in the

mid-60s before recording the seminal For Alto (Delmark Records), the first-ever

recording for solo saxophone. Subsequent collaborations included ‘Circle’ with

Chick Corea and Dave Holland, Italian free improvisation group Musica

Elettronica Viva, and in duo with guitarist Derek Bailey, drummer Max Roach, and

pianist Hank Jones. His quartet with pianist Marilyn Crispell, bassist Mark

Dresser, and drummer Gerry Hemingway during the 80s and 90s is often considered

Braxton’s most remarkable ensemble. His three decades of recordings is

kaleidoscopic and prolific, and has been met with critical praise including

prestigious awards. Braxton is a recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship and a

tenured professor at Wesleyan University.

Purchase tickets today:

http://ticketweb.com/user/?region=xxx&quer...etweb&newhps=1&

search=anthony+braxton

International House, 3701 Chestnut Street | Philadelphia

[Chalupa]

Got my tix for the whole IHouse festive a few weeks ago.

Alan, did you make it to the Joseph Jarman show last night???

Edited October 25, 2005 by Chalupa

[alankin]

Got my tix for the whole IHouse festive a few weeks ago. 

Alan, did you make it to the  Joseph Jarman show last night???

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Nope, it's tough for me to get out on a Monday night.

Anyone see the Jarman?

Edited October 25, 2005 by alankin

[Hoppy T. Frog]

I'm driving from Central Maryland for this show--my first Braxton concert.

[Chalupa]

FYI...

there are a limited number of 1/2 price tix....

http://www.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=42063

[md655321]

How did I not know about this?!?

Hopefully I can make it. Would it be too perverse too drag my girlfriend to the show?

[Ron S]

How did I not know about this?!?

Hopefully I can make it.  Would it be too perverse too drag my girlfriend to the show?

Only if you're also bringing your wife.

[alankin]

8pm tonight.

[Hoppy T. Frog]

8pm tonight.

←

It was great, but I was surprised at the number of walkouts (actually I shouldn't, considering the number of walkouts I saw at an Ornette Coleman show just last year--WHERE'S DE JAZZ??!!).

Anybody have the season tickets and get to talk to Braxton before the show? Any idea what composition was played, and if it was one of the Ghost Trance series or one of the others he is working on?

Edited November 5, 2005 by Hoppy T. Frog

[Chalupa]

The walkouts were disturbing but not unexpected. The show looked to be a sellout and he did get a standing ovation (w/ a 2nd call back) from the crowd. However, one would think that at a concert presented at an university that there would be a number of open minded people in attendance.

Hopefully it won't be another 13 years before his next Philly show.

[md655321]

You would figure these people would know what a Braxton show was.

That being said I was a bit underwhlemed at moments. Obviously when you teeter on the edge like he does, there is a fine line between noise and greatness. I think it was often on the noise side.

But there were several great moments, many of them provided by Taylor Ho Bynum. And obviously Braxton's playing was very good.

[Chalupa]

It was very demanding music. I wonder if Braxton(and the audience) would have been better served if they had had two shorter 45 minute sets instead of one long 90 minute set. Towards the end I was feeling a little fatigued(both physically and mentally) and I suppose some of the people who walked out may have felt that way too. Though I blame the fatigue factor more on the setting than the music. The room was really hot and made for a very uncomfortable listening experience for me.

[felser]

You would figure these people would know what a Braxton show was.

←

I could make a pretty good guess, and stayed home!

Edited November 6, 2005 by felser

[Ron S]

You would figure these people would know what a Braxton show was.

I could make a pretty good guess, and stayed home!

Me too.

[alankin]

Actually, I thought there were very few walkouts -- maybe 5% of the audience?

I thought the concert was exhilarating.

The performance emphasized the ensemble's interaction more than just Braxton's soloing. Seeing the group in performance helped me better understand how Braxton organizes some of his work. The musicians spent a lot of the time working as changing pairs or trios, superimposing different segments. Changes in sub-groups were made by hand signals. There was a lot of variety and a fair amount of humor. Braxton cracked up one or twice.

Besides Braxton himself, the playing from Taylor Ho Bynum (trumpet & trombone) and Jay Rozen (tuba) stood out. Rozen got an amazing set of sounds. At one point he played the tuba through a sax mouthpiece.

And I was thrilled that Braxton brought his contrabass sax. It made the baritone look like a toy!

And yes, the room was too warm and I got a bit weary towards the end. (But then I always hate sitting for that long.)

This was the sextet's U.S. premiere. They've been together since the Spring and have played about a dozen gigs in Europe. They're playing in Boston tonight and then will be off until next year. (And the Philly gig is the first with the contrabass sax. They drove it down in a van.)

Edited November 6, 2005 by alankin

[7/4]

This was the sextet's U.S. premiere.  They've been together since the Spring and have played about a dozen gigs in Europe.  They're playing in Boston tonight and then will be off until next year. 

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Last night was Boston.

[alankin]

They're playing in Boston tonight and then will be off until next year. 

←

Last night was Boston.

←

Oops! You're right. I think the Braxton concert bumped me off my position in the space-time continuum.

[7/4]

They're playing in Boston tonight and then will be off until next year. 

←

Last night was Boston.

←

Oops! You're right. I think the Braxton concert bumped me off my position in the space-time continuum.

←

Not an unsusal side effect.

[GregK]

This was the sextet's U.S. premiere.  They've been together since the Spring and have played about a dozen gigs in Europe.  They're playing in Boston tonight and then will be off until next year.  (And the Philly gig is the first with the contrabass sax.  They drove it down in a van.)

←

Where do I find the concert dates/locations for the US? I recently emailed the U of Michigan musical society a request to invite Braxton here to Ann Arbor and they told me that they are very interested in bringing him here and will try to do so, but they had nothing more than that so far.